Batavia stays firm on video gambling ban

A Batavia committee recommended that the city uphold its ban on video gambling Tuesday after a handful of community members voiced opposition to a proposed ordinance that would allow some businesses and fraternal groups to set up terminals on their premises.

At a Joint Committee on the Whole meeting, aldermen voted 6-4 to reject the proposed ordinance, which would have permitted some liquor license holders, such as veterans groups, fraternal organizations and certain businesses, to offer video gambling consistent with provisions in the state law.

"Just because a law is on the books doesn't make it right," said Ald. Martin Callahan, who voted against the ordinance. "I was sworn in to represent my neighbors and my constituents and so I asked them … they don't want it here."

Under the proposed ordinance, businesses or groups would pay the city an annual $25 fee per video gambling terminal, which would have to be licensed by the state before being placed on business premises.

At the meeting, several religious leaders and other residents spoke against lifting the ban, saying that allowing video gambling in Batavia would damage the community.

"It's often called the crack cocaine of gambling," said Rev. Michael Rasicci, of the Batavia Ministerial Association. "The social costs are ultimately too high."

Some said the council should uphold the ban for "moral" reasons, but supporters of video gambling challenged that notion, saying that it wasn't the government's role to ensure residents were morally responsible for their actions.

"Morality is not legislative. We're here today to vote on a legislative matter," said Dale Richard of the Batavia Overseas Post 1197, Veterans of Foreign Wars. "We might as well close down the liquor stores in town … if we're going to legislate morality."

Ald. Garran Sparks, who voted in favor of the ordinance, said he initially supported the video gambling ban when the state infrastructure was still being developed but that now it made sense to allow gambling in Batavia.

"This is an issue of your rights and a business has a right to do stuff in their business to make money as long as its legal and right now in the state its legal," Sparks said. "The government can't keep making rules to keep your morals in line."

The full City Council will consider the ordinance later this month. If the council votes to lift the ban, Mayor Jeff Schielke said he'd veto the ordinance. Two-thirds vote of the council would be needed to overturn a veto.